MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
No. 15 Vermont (23-10, 14-2 AE) squares off with No. 2 Marquette (28-6, 17-3 Big East) in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday (Mar. 17) in Columbus, Ohio. Tip-off is slated for 2:45 p.m. ET at Nationwide Arena.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Friday's First Round matchup will be nationally televised on CBS with Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, and Jamie Erdahl on the call. Fans can tune into Westwood One's national radio broadcast, hosted by Kevin Kugler and Jordan Cornette. Fans can also listen to the game for free on the Vermont Sports Network, from Learfield on The Game, which will air on 97.1 FM in Burlington, 105.9 FM in Plattsburgh, and 960 AM around the rest of the region. The radio broadcast is also available via the Varsity Network App with Brian McLaughlin on the call.
 
RELATED LINKS
Watch: March Madness Live 
Listen: Varsity Network App | Westwood One
Live Stats 
Game Notes: Vermont | Marquette
CatamounTV Press Conference: Becker | Duncan | Penn | Deloney | Sullivan
 
VERMONT MEN'S BASKETBALL NCAA TOURNAMENT PREGAME GATHERING
The University of Vermont is excited to host a pregame gathering at Whistle & Keg Brewery and Beer Hall for our Catamount fans! Enjoy pub fare on us and a cash bar before heading to the game. The gathering runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

WATCH PARTY LOCATIONS
The Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub, Zero Gravity, Nectars, and the UVM Alumni House will be hosting watch parties for Friday's NCAA Tournament game. Fans who are unable to make the trip to Columbus are encouraged to stop by and support their Cats in an exciting environment at any of these locations.
 
BACK-TO-BACK APPEARANCES
Vermont has punched its ticket to the Big Dance for the second consecutive season. It will be the first time that UVM has made consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances since 2005. The Cats made three-straight trips to March Madness from 2003 to 2005.
 
15 SEED
The Catamounts are a No. 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in its nine appearances. Vermont was a No. 15 seed in 2004 when it fell to eventual National Champion, UConn, 70-53 in the First Round.
 
HISTORY OF THE 15 SEEDS
Fifteenth-seeded teams are 10-138 all-time against No. 2 seeds in the NCAA Tournament, with six of the 10 upsets coming in the last decade. A No. 15 seed has reached the Sweet 16 in each of the last two tournaments, most recently with Saint Peter's Cinderella run in 2022.
 
HOW WE GOT HERE
The Catamounts return to the Big Dance after losing 66.5% of their scoring and four of their five starters from a season ago. Vermont welcomed seven newcomers to the program, making up 50.0% of its roster. UVM started off the season with 8-of-9 games away from Burlington, and fell to a 2-7 mark through the month of November. Since then, the Catamounts have produced a 21-3 mark, and are currently riding a 15-game winning streak. The 15-game streak is the second-longest winning streak in the country.
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Marquette claimed the Big East Championship with a 65-51 victory over Xavier on Saturday. The Golden Eagles were recently ranked No. 6 in the AP Top-25 poll. Marquette owns one of the top offenses in the nation, ranked No. 7 in adjusted offensive efficiency (119.3), and No. 8 in effective field goal percentage (56.0%). Four Golden Eagles average double figures, including Big East Player of the Year, Tyler Kolek (13.3 ppg). Kolek ranks No. 2 in the country in assist per game (7.7) and No. 3 in assist/turnover (3.22).
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vermont and Marquette meet for the third time in series history, and the first time in the NCAA Tournament. The Catamounts are 0-2 in their two trips visiting the Golden Eagles in Milwaukee. UVM fell to Marquette 91-81 in 2017. Stef Smith had a team-high 20 points, going 6-for-6 from long range.
 
McGee Automotive Group is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball